Neuropharmacology- CNS Depressants and Stimulants

At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. recall neurotransmission in the Central Nervous System; 2. explain the pathologies and treatment modalities of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Epilepsy, Schizophrenia and Depression; 3. discuss the pharmacology of hypnotics and sedatives including alcohols, barbiturates, benzodiazepines and other non-barbiturates; 4. explain prostaglandin synthesis and consequences of its blockade by NSAIDS to produce anti- inflammation, analgesia and antipyresis; and 5. describe the mechanisms of action, chemistry, clinical uses and adverse effects of local and general anaesthetic drugs and contrast between local and general anaesthetics.

Introduction: Review of functional organisation of CNS Pharmacology of drugs used as hypnotics, sedatives, antipsychotics, mood stabiliing drugs, anticonvulsants and related disorders. Anxiolytic drugs. Tricyclic antidepressants and other CNS Stimulants and analeptics. Drugs used in Parkinson and other neurodegenerative diseases. Centrally-acting appetite suppressants. Theories of general anaesthesia, General anaesthetics, Local anaesthetics and pre-anaesthetic medications. Opioid analgesics and antagonists, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics. Practical: Animal Models of Analgesia (Hot Plate and Tail Clip Methods), Epilepsy (Pentylenetetrazole PTZ, Strychnine, 4-aminopyridine and Maximal Electroshock test MEST- induced models of epilepsy). Induction of sleep with barbiturates, sedative-hypnotics, Induction of Parkinson disease in animals using 6-hydroxydopamine and MPTP and Induction of psychosis in animals with amphetamine and treatment with anti-psychotic agents.